Perth family rescued after spending days stranded in Simpson Desert
A Perth family stranded for four days the Simpson Desert have been rescued.
South Australian police today sent a helicopter to Oodnadatta, a remote area of the state's outback, where the Zavros family's 4WD vehicle was bogged.
The family-of-four became stranded on Friday morning after bad weather and flooding on the desert roads.
Drinks and iceblocks were handed to the family after they arrived in Coober Pedy. 9News
In a statement released just before 5pm today, South Australian police said the family had been winched to safety.
"The family are being flown to Coober Pedy to stay the night, where they will then make their own further travel arrangements," the statement said.
A helicopter was deployed to the family's location amid rising temperatures. Supplied
The family was handed drinks and ice blocks after they touched down in the SA town of in Coober Pedy.
The long journey to collect them began around 8am when the helicopter left Adelaide Airport.
It had to make quick fuel stops at Port Augusta and two other spots before arriving at the Zavros' location near the Northern Territory border.
It was previously expected rescue could take as long as two weeks as police wait for flooded roads to clear.
After activating an emergency beacon it took four hours for a maritime safety plane sent from Melbourne to find the family and drop a care package 9News
After activating an emergency beacon last week it took four hours for a maritime safety plane sent from Melbourne to find the family and drop a care package.
Ori Zavros, wife Lindsey and children Zane and Zoe became stuck in a remote region in the state's north after their homemade campervan became bogged along Purni Bore Track in Witjira National Park.
The family-of-four have been on a roadtrip since last year. 9News
The trapped family was airdropped essential supplies including a satellite phone to call home, earlier this week.
Ori's parents Theo and Lagis Zavros told 9News they were very worried at first.
"It was awful...absolutely awful," Theo said.
"My mind was going through illness, accident."
"It was just the unknown - we didn't know what state they were going to find things in," Lagis added.
Ori's parents Theo and Lagis Zavros tell 9News they were very worried at first 9News
The Zavros family has been travelling around the country since last year.
They set off from Birdsville in Queensland on Monday to make their way through a remote national park near the Northern Territory border, before the wild weather hit.
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